Mohun Bagan vs Ravshan Highlights: MBSG 0-0 RVKB, Mariners begin AFC Champions League 2 through a goalless draw

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AFC Champions League 2: Mohun Bagan begins Asian campaign with a goalless draw against Ravshan Kulob

Mohun Bagan Super Giant failed to convert multiple scoring opportunities as it opened its AFC Champions League 2 campaign with a goalless draw against Ravshan Kulob.

Despite Mohun Bagan making frequent forays into the opposition penalty box, it could not break the deadlock as their opening match in the AFC Champions League 2 ended goalless in Kolkata. 

Mohun Bagan gets a free-kick in stoppage time but the kick is headed clear by Ravshan and the match looks to be heading to a goalless draw.

Petratos gets another through ball from Stewart and just before his final shot in the box, he goes down appealing for a penalty. But the referee is no t interested and the Australian in furious.

Stewart looks to create another attack when he threads in a pass from just outside the box. The ball reaches Petratos after a failed block by Ravshan’s defence and Petratos finds the net with his shot.

However, since he was already in an off-side position, the linesman raises the flag, ruling the goal out.

Stewart threads a through ball for Colaco, who had made an overlapping run along the left. He is ahead of the Ravshan defence but his right-footed curler flies wide off-target.

Mohun Bagan gets another opportunity when a back-pass is missed by the goalkeeper but Petratos fails to make the most of the chance.

Ravshan looks to have suffered some sort of injury woes as Kristian Mocic limps off the field with a suspected injury. 

In: Greg Stewart, Abhishek Suryawanshi , Out: Manvir Singh, Deepak Tagri 

Mohun Bagan catches Ravshan’s defence napping as Cummings gets a through ball, with Ofori rushing to get to the ball. Cummings carries the ball into the box and tries to flick it past Grystenko. 

However, poor execution sees the ball land safely into the goalkeeper’s hands. The Australian should have converted that opportunity!

Tangri goes to ground and looks to be struggling with some sort of injury along his waist. Greg Stewart is prompted to action as Molina indicates a potential attacking replacement of Tangri with Stewart. 

Mohun Bagan gets a set-piece opportunity, with Petratos taking the corner kick. However, like the tale of this match so far, Petratos’ cross is headed clear by the team from Tajikistan.

Manvir gets the ball along the right and crosses for Cummings but overshoots the ball as Colaco tries to get the ball in control. But by then, Ravshan had its defence covered.

Ashurmamadov is drawn into action along the right as he tries to set up Matic up front, but Mohun Bagan stops that attack to start a counterattack.

In: Ashurmamadov , Out: Markovich

In: Liston Colaco, Lalengmawia Ralte

Out: Sahal Abdul Samad, Anirudh Thapa

Mohun Bagan has dominated possession in this match so far and gets a set-piece opportunity from a corner. Petratos takes the kick, which is flicked over the net by Manvir Singh.

Mohun Bagan continues building from the back but its developments remains futile as it has no shots on target in this match so far. 

Matic tries to start a counterattack from the midfield and Dippendu marks him well as the game stops with a free-kick to the visitors.

Mohun Bagan has been forced into its own half after restart as Ravshan keeps on launching attacks, one after the other. This time, Markovich takes a shot from inside the Mohun Bagan box and two players of the home side put their body on the line to block it.

Sahal tries to ruffle a few feathers in the Ravshan defence and fouls Markovich after a forward run. The visiting side gets a free-kick, which it takes quickly.

Ravshan comes up with an overlap outside the Mohun Bagan box and Rahimov tries shotl which is blocked by the Bagan defence and then saved by Kaith.

Ravshan is not taking anymore time to settle into the second half as Markovic takes a shot from outside the box, forcing a save by Vishal Kaith.

Ravshan gets the ball rolling in the second half as either side strives to find the breakthrough in their opening match of AFC Champions League 2.

Mohun Bagan gets a chance from a free-kick. Petratos takes the kick, which is headed down by Subhasish Bose, but there is no pace in the shot as Grytsenko has no trouble controlling the ball to safety.

Mohun Bagan has not gone past the group stages since 2022, when it was coached by Juan Ferrando. With Molina as the new gaffer, it will look to tur the tide. But so far, the scenario has looked grim for the Mariners.

Ravshan makes a run along the left flank and he attempts a crosses to the centre of the box. But Khaitov, getting to it without having control on his run, sees the ball go out of play. 

The contest so far has been a rather dull affair, with Ravshan making forward advances, only to see them end to nothing while Mohun Bagan has struggled to make the goalkeeper work so far.

Thapa to Asish to Manvir as Mohun Bagan tries to build slowly from the back. As Asish tries to set up Manvir in the box, the India winger’s run behind the Ravshan defence sees the referee raise the off-side flag.

Mohun Bagan tries to start a quick counterattack with Petratos getting the ball, turning and kicking it high up the pitch for Cummings. But the Australian striker fails to get to the ball on time as it goes out of play.

The match resumes after a short water break. The conditions in Kolkata have been challenging for football with temperatures soaring over 30 degrees. 

Matic gets the ball in the midfield and sets up Rahimov in the box, who shoots on target. Kaith makes a save but fails to stop the ball and then turns over to stop the ball before it reaches the goal-line

Dippendu’s lack of discipline gets another free-kick to Ravshan outside the penalty box and Nazarov takes the free-kick. Though the shot is off-target, it makes the goalkeeper work as it drifts wide off-target. 

Mohun Bagan on the backfoot again as Manvir’s block gives Ravshan a corner kick. However, the Mariners remains astute at the back to clear the ball away.

Rahimov takes the free-kick, a left-footed hit into the box, which is headed away by Subhasish Bose, out of danger.

Ravshan goes for an attack, with Markovich making a run along the right flank. However, Dippendu makes a sliding tackle to stop the full-back and gets into the book for the late challenge.

Petratos gets the ball in the final third off a cross from Manvir. Petratos drifts to his left and then his marker misses the ball as the Australian remains free in the box. But before he could launch a shot, he is surrounded by the opponents and his final shot is blocked.

Meanwhile, Subhasish tries to create a quick attack along the left flank, trying to set up Sahal. But Rahimov marks him well to deny any chance for him to take control of the ball and launch a shot.

Mohun Bagan is trying to play one-touch passes to break the press of Ravshan, which is laying low in its own half at the moment. But no major opportunity has come Mohun Bagan’s way so far.

Mohun Bagan goes for an attack on the other end this time, with Asish Rai threading is a through ball Manvir Singh. The India forward makes a run to his right with the ball but Ofori stops him in his tracks.

Ravshan tries to build another attack along the flanks, this time along the left flank. Sultonov floats in a cross in front of the box but Aldred intercepts and clears the ball away.

Ravshan attacks on the counter, with Rahimov getting a through ball along the left and he tries to set up Matic on his left. But Matic’s shot is intercepted by Thapa. 

Mawutor steals the ball off Manvir Singh, who tries to make a run from the midfield but the referee saw a late challenge there, giving a free-kick, which was taken quickly by Mohun Bagan.

Aldred and Dippendu have been deployed as centre-backs while Bose and Asish are the two full-backs. Molina had previously said that Alberto Rodriguez is out with an injury and his absence might be a problem for the Kolkata-based outfit.

Mohun Bagan is pressing high up the pitch again, with Subhasish Bose staving off the opponents and Asish Rai carrying the ball past the mid-way mark.

Murodov draws defenders towards himself and releases Khaitov, whose attempt goes out for a corner kick. The corner is headed by Sultonov but it is off-target and the ball goes out of play for a goal-kick.

Mohun Bagan is gauging the pressure of the visiting side, which is prowling around the half-way mark, looking for margins for error by the host.

Mohun Bagan gets the ball rolling in Kolkata, playing from left to right while Ravshan starts from the other side. The Mariners are in their conventional green and maroon while Ravshan starts in red and white.

Mohun Bagan comes into the match after a 2-2 draw with Mumbai City FC in their Indian Super League opener. It also lost a two-goal lead in the Durand Cup final, eventually losing the match to NorthEast United before that. 

The players of both sides walk out of the tunnel as the anthem of AFC Champions League 2 is played in the stadium. The stage is set and the players are ready!

Grytsenko - Ghiyosov, Ofori, Nazarov, Markovich - Mawutor, Murodov, Khaitov - Sultonov, Matic, Rahimov

Vishal Kaith - Aldred, Asish Rai, Bose, Dippendu - Thapa, Tangri -Sahal, Petratos, Manvir - Cummings 

Mohun Bagan Super Giant will start its continental campaign in the new season by taking on FC Ravshan Kulob of Tajikistan in the AFC Champions League Two’s opening group A league match at home in Salt Lake Stadium on Wednesday.

Having gained its spot in ACL Two as the Indian Super League (ISL) shield champion, Mohun Bagan will be looking to make the qualification count by making a positive start in the tournament. 

The 135-year-old club will be look to draw inspiration from its legacy as it plans its approach against the visitor in their first-ever meeting. 

Read the full preview here

AFC Champions League 2: Mohun Bagan looks to chase Asian dream afresh under head coach Molina

Having gained its spot in ACL Two as the Indian Super League (ISL) shield champion, Mohun Bagan will be looking to make the qualification count by making a positive start in the tournament.